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Sea Eagles duo join Maroons camp

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Eight players, including Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, have been called into the Queensland Maroons camp ahead of Holden State of Origin Game One at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday.

Cherry-Evans, Jacob Lillyman (18th man), Chris McQueen, Brenton Lawrence, Nene Macdonald, Felise Kaufusi and former Maroon Scott Prince will all link up with the Maroons at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast, with new coach Kevin Walters set to put his squad through some opposed sessions.

Former Queensland star Justin Hodges will also join Camp Maroon this weekend as Queensland steps up preparations for Game One in Sydney.

Hodges retired from the representative arena after the Maroons' series victory over the Blues last year, but Walters believes the former Bronco still has plenty to offer.

The veteran of 24 Origin matches will join a number of other Maroons hopefuls and young talent from Intrust Super Cup club the Sunshine Coast Falcons for a run against the current squad on Sunday.

Hodges is also fulfilling a key role this weekend as a mentor with Queensland's under-16 team, which plays the young Blues in the Origin curtain-raiser.

Sea Eagles duo Cherry-Evans and Lawrence are expected to take part in today's training sessions only, before heading back to Sydney on the weekend.

Cherry-Evans played in Game Two of last year's Origin series, replacing regular Queensland halfback Cooper Cronk in a 26-18 loss to NSW at the MCG. Cronk returned for the series-decider three weeks later as the Marrons thrashed the Blues 52-6 at Suncorp Stadium.

The opposed session will be Queensland's last training run at Sanctuary Cove before the team departs for Sydney on Monday.